The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-12-10
OBLIGATIONS OF UNIvERSALISTS.
BY THE LATE NJ. L. EDWARDS.

reference to the faith of other Christian
denominations. We count it more glo-
rious than any other; and this estimate
is virtually confessed to be true by
those who reject it, when they say, ut
is too good to be true" Viewed in ref
erence to human deserts it may be too
good; but it is not too good to come
from God, the good Father of all, nor is
it too good to meet the needs of his
earthly children. 1t contemplates the
ultimate triumph of good over evil, and
the deliverance of all souls from dark
ness and ignorance, and sin and death,
and their eternal beatitude in world
of immortal beauty, and Of joy unspeak-
able.
Providentially this faith, for the time
being, is committed to our trust. Since
our denomination came into being we
have had a hard fight in its advocacy
and defense. In the way of argument
with its opposers the old forts have been
taken; but the opposing forces have not
been disbanded. New positions have
been assumed in the room of those sur
rendered. So, leaving the old demol-
ished citadels behind us, we must form
our lines anew, and fight on and keep
fighting, while pernicious error and SUI
perstition remain.
But we must make good use Of the
ground we occupy. OF little avail will
it be to root out old errors, and leave
the ground to grow up to weeds. Good
seed must be planted, and watered, and
made to grow and bear fruit. Our
more glorious faith must bear for US
and for the world the most precious
fruit. We are called upon, then, not
only to do good in seemingly small ways,
but to abound in all benefcent enter
prises-to be ever forward in them. In
stead of being laggards, we should be
able to say to others-Come and help
us in this good work.
We should bear in mind that our re-
ligion is emphatically the religion of
humanity-of love to God and love to
man-to all men and as su CHI, of JUS
tice and equity; of compassion and good
will to all. And it behooves us espec-
tally to consider the situation of the
poor, the dependent and the oppressed,
and look after their welfare. Our great
Teacher came to preach the gospel to
the poor, to set at liberty the bound,
and to relieve the oppressed.
1t is well to look after the immediate
wants Of the poor and relieve them, and
especially to aid them to gain situations
in which they can help themselves. Be-
yond this, it is well and important to
consider how it is that so many people
become poor, and how poverty may be
prevented. The prevention of poverty
must Of course be brought about by re-
moval of the causes which bring people
to poverty. Two of these are promi-
neutrality-suspicious. and the wrongful
absorption of the wealth of the country
into the hands Of few. The multiple
cation of millionaires involves the null
DUPLICATION of paupers. In labors to re-
move these giant evils the church
should be in the van. Are we alive to
our duty in this respectp We must
wage war against intemperance; and
while we condemn drunkenness, and
labor to reclaim and save all from the
power of this evil, we must condemn
the greed of those whose trade it is to
make drunkards and ruin their families,
and do our best to embargo their traffic.
We strike the core of these great twin
evils when we allege that greed makes
both drunkards and paupers, and does
not scruple at the means employed.
Let us now notice some matters more
in detail pertaining to our own church.
We have some measurably strong and
prosperous parishes. We have too
many that are weak and sickly. Some
have pastors and some have not. AS a
rule, pastorates among US are too brief,
and too unstable. The fault may be
with the pastor, or with the people, or
with both-most likely the latter. Pos
sibly it may be with neither. In all
cases it is unfortunate, and involves loss
of power in a community. A better
condition should be sought on the part
of all. No slight obstacles should stand
in the way.
In all churches, strong or weak, dis
sensions and strife should be avoided.
They will be when the right spirit pre-
walls. Unity of spirit in the bond of
peace" should be the rule. Unity of
spirit will carry with it unity of action
cooperation in the work to be done.
Church debts are often a great him
drance to prosperity-especially such
debts as bear interest and increase in
volume-and very often unwisely cre-
ated. Very seldom if ever should they
be incurred, and those which exist
should be got rid of as soon as possible.
Churches and individual Christians
seem to go in debt as if they had
never heard of the wise injunction of
Paul: "Owe no man anything, but to
love one another" Indeed, our whole